Donald R. Heldman, 33°. Deputy for Ohio. Supreme Council. Scottish Rite, NMJ. by Travis Simpkins

Donald R. Heldman, 33°. Deputy for Ohio. Supreme Council. Scottish Rite, NMJ. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

Illustrious Brother

Donald R. Heldman

Deputy for the State of Ohio

Supreme Council, 33°

Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite

Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, U.S.A.

by Travis Simpkins

Core Values - Scottish Rite, NMJ

For more info, please visit:

scottishritenmj.org

Donald R. Heldman, 33°. Deputy for Ohio. Supreme Council. Scottish Rite, NMJ. by Travis Simpkins

 

Queen Nefertiti. Ancient Egypt. The Egyptian Museum, Berlin. by Travis Simpkins

Queen Nefertiti. Ancient Egypt. The Egyptian Museum, Berlin. by Travis Simpkins

Sketch of the

Ancient Egyptian

Statue of Queen Nefertiti

Amarna Period. New Kingdom, Dynasty 18

1345 B.C.

Collection of

The Egyptian Museum, Berlin, Germany

by Travis Simpkins

Uncovering Queen Nefertiti's Lost Tomb

For more info, please visit:

egyptian-museum-berlin.com

Queen Nefertiti. Ancient Egypt. The Egyptian Museum, Berlin. by Travis Simpkins

2021 Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania Photos with Travis Simpkins

R.W. Jeffrey Wonderling, Grand Master of the Grand  Lodge of Pennsylvania with Travis Simpkins

I had a wonderful time in Pittsburgh at the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. Sunday night was the farewell banquet for Right Worshipful Past Grand Master Thomas Gamon. Monday was the installation of officers and a banquet for Jeffrey Wonderling, the new Right Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. I had fun catching up with friends M.W. Keith Newton, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ohio as well as R.W. David Tucker, Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey. My wife, Janet Simpkins, and I were able to see our friend Paul J. Roup installed as the new Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. I also was able to have a great chat with M.W. Robert B. Ellston, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island.

M.W. Keith Newton, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ohio with Travis Simpkins

R.W. David Tucker, Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey with Travis Simpkins

Janet Simpkins, PJ Roup and Travis Simpkins. Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania

M.W. Robert Ellston, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island with Travis Simpkins

 

Masonic Mentorship. Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth. Freemasons. by Travis Simpkins

Masonic Mentorship. Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth. Freemasons. by Travis Simpkins

Masonic Mentorship

Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth

Sketch by Travis Simpkins

Commissioned by Maynard Edwards, 32°, KCCH

Not Just a Man, a Mason

For more info, please visit:

beafreemason.org

Not Just a Man, a Mason

 

The Holy Eucharist with the Madonna, Archangel Michael and Saint Padre Pio. by Travis Simpkins

The Holy Eucharist with the Madonna, Archangel Michael and Saint Padre Pio. by Travis Simpkins

The Holy Eucharist 

with the Madonna, Archangel Michael 

and Saint Padre Pio

by Travis Simpkins

Roman Catholic Diocese of Campo Limpo

Sao Paulo, Brazil

R.W. Thomas Gamon. Past Grand Master. Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. by Travis Simpkins

R.W. Thomas Gamon. Past Grand Master. Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait of

Right Worshipful 

Thomas Gamon, IV

Past Grand Master 

Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania

Past Master of 

Perkiomen Lodge No. 595

Red Hill, Pennsylvania

33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason

Valley of Reading, PA

Oil on Canvas

by Travis Simpkins

Collection of the Masonic Library and Museum of Pennsylvania

Masonic Temple in Philadelphia

Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania

The Masonic Temple in Philadelphia

Thomas Gamon. Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. The Masonic Temple in Philadelphia. Travis Simpkins

For more info, please visit:

pagrandlodge.org

and

pamasonictemple.org

R.W. Thomas Gamon. Past Grand Master. Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. by Travis Simpkins

 

M.W. Paul F. Gleason. Past Grand Master. Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. by Travis Simpkins

M.W. Paul F. Gleason. Past Grand Master. Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. by Travis Simpkins

Official Portrait of

Most Worshipful

Paul Fulton Gleason

89th Grand Master

Grand Lodge of Massachusetts

(2017 - 2019)

Past Master of

William Parkman Lodge

Winchester, MA

(1975 - 1976)

33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason

Valley of Boston, MA

Oil on Canvas

by Travis Simpkins

Collection of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, A.F. & A.M.

Photography by R.W. Philip Nowlan

Grand Lodge of Massachusetts

Grand Lodge of Massachusetts

M.W. Paul F. Gleason. Past Grand Master. Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. by Travis Simpkins

 For more info, please visit:

massfreemasonry.org

M.W. Paul F. Gleason. Past Grand Master. Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. by Travis Simpkins

M.W. Richard Maggio. Grand Master. Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. by Travis Simpkins

M.W. Richard Maggio. Grand Master. Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

Most Worshipful

Richard Maggio

Grand Master

Grand Lodge of Massachusetts

33rd Degree Freemason

Valley of Boston

Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite

Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, U.S.A.

by Travis Simpkins

Not Just a Man, a Mason

For more info, please visit:

massfreemasonry.org

M.W. Richard Maggio. Grand Master. Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. by Travis Simpkins

Aleister Crowley. Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Ordo Templi Orientis. OTO. Magick. Thelema. by Travis Simpkins

Aleister Crowley. Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Ordo Templi Orientis. OTO. Magick. Thelema. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

Aleister Crowley

born Edward Alexander Crowley

( 1875 - 1947 )

Occultist, Ceremonial Magician, Artist

& Author of Magick and The Book of the Law

Founder of Thelema

called "The Wickedest Man in the World"

Member of

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn

and

Ordo Templi Orientis ( O.T.O. )

by Travis Simpkins

 Aleister Crowley - The Great Beast

Ozzy Osbourne - Mr. Crowley

 For more info, please visit:

oto-usa.org

Aleister Crowley. Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. OTO. The Book of the Law. Thelema. by Travis Simpkins

Masonic Collar Jewels of Grand Masters from Portraits by Travis Simpkins

Masonic Collar Jewels of Grand Masters from Portraits by Travis Simpkins

     Back in 2016, when I first began making portraits of Grand Masters, I sort of assumed that the Grand Master collar jewel had a somewhat standard style. After making a good number of GM portraits, it turns out there is quite a bit of variety. Here are details from some examples that I’ve done over the past five years.

R. Steve Bell, 33°. Scottish Rite Valley of Danville, Illinois. NMJ. by Travis Simpkins

R. Steve Bell, 33°. Scottish Rite Valley of Danville, Illinois. NMJ. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

Illustrious Brother

R. Steve Bell

33rd Degree Freemason

Valley of Danville

Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite

Northern Masonic Jurisdiction

by Travis Simpkins

Valley of Danville, Illinois. Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, NMJ

 For more info, please visit:

aasrdanville.org

R. Steve Bell, 33°. Scottish Rite Valley of Danville, Illinois. NMJ. by Travis Simpkins

William Gillette as Sherlock Holmes. Stage Actor. Silent Film. Gillette Castle. by Travis Simpkins

William Gillette as Sherlock Holmes. Stage Actor. Silent Film. Gillette Castle. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

William Gillette

( 1853 - 1937 )

Actor, Stage Manager and Playwright

Best Remembered for portraying

Sherlock Holmes

on stage 1,300 times over 30 years

and in one 1916 Silent Film

Owner/Designer of Gillette Castle

Hadlyme, Connecticut

by Travis Simpkins

Sherlock Holmes (1916) starring William Gillette

Gillette Castle. Home of William Gillette. Sherlock Holmes. Hadlyme, Connecticut

For more info, please visit:

sherlockian-sherlock.com/travis-simpkins-interview

William Gillette as Sherlock Holmes. Stage Actor. Silent Film. Gillette Castle. by Travis Simpkins

 

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum: Standard Bearer of the Harvest Festival. Mancini. by Travis Simpkins

Standard Bearer of the Harvest Festival. Antonio Mancini. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. by Travis Simpkins

Sketch of

The Standard Bearer of the Harvest Festival, 1884

Antonio Mancini (1852-1930)

Collection of the 

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

by Travis Simpkins

For more info, visit:

gardnermuseum.org

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Sketches by Travis Simpkins

image copyright © Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Standard Bearer. Antonio Mancini. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. by Travis Simpkins

Isis. Ancient Egyptian Goddess. Mythology. 18th Dynasty. Sketch by Travis Simpkins

Isis. Ancient Egyptian Goddess. 1550-1292 BC. 18th Dynasty. Sketch by Travis Simpkins

Sketch of an

Ancient Egyptian

Figure of

Isis

Wife/Sister of Osiris
Mother of Horus

Goddess, helped the dead 
in entering the afterlife
Divine Mother of the Pharaoh (Horus)
Her maternal aid was 
invoked in healing spells. 
She was also prominent in
royal rituals, temple rites,
funerary practices and magical texts

18th Dynasty, 1550 - 1292 B.C.

by Travis Simpkins

The Osiris Myth

Egyptian Mythology

 For more information, please visit:

www.ancient.eu/isis

Isis. Ancient Egyptian Goddess. 1550-1292 BC. 18th Dynasty. Sketch by Travis Simpkins

Burl Ives, 33° GC. American Folk Musician, Actor and Freemason. by Travis Simpkins

Burl Ives, 33° GC. American Folk Musician, Actor and Freemason. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

Illustrious Brother

Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives

( 1909 - 1995 )

American Folk Musician

Actor of Stage, Screen, Radio and Television

Joined the Order of DeMolay in 1927

Freemason

Member of

Magnolia-La Cumbre Lodge No. 242

Scottish Rite Valley of Santa Barbara, California

and Valley of Bellingham, Washington

33rd Degree, Grand Cross

by Travis Simpkins

Burl Ives - A Holly Jolly Christmas

 For more info, please visit:

burlives.com

Burl Ives, 33° GC. American Folk Musician, Actor and Freemason. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. by Travis Simpkins

Bing Crosby. Crooner. Singer, Musician and Actor. White Christmas. by Travis Simpkins

Bing Crosby. Crooner. Singer, Musician and Actor. White Christmas. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

Bing Crosby

Harry Lillis Crosby, Jr.

( 1903 - 1977 )

Crooner

Singer and Actor

One of the Most Popular and Influential

Musical Artists of the 20th Century

by Travis Simpkins

Bing Crosby - White Christmas

Santa Claus and His Flying Reindeer. Christmas. by Travis Simpkins

For more info, please visit:

imdb.com/BingCrosby

Bing Crosby. Crooner. Singer and Actor. White Christmas. by Travis Simpkins

 

Nat King Cole. Jazz Musician. Prince Hall Freemason. by Travis Simpkins

Nat King Cole. Jazz Musician. Prince Hall Freemason. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

Nat King Cole

Nathaniel Adams Coles

( 1919 - 1965 )

Jazz Musician

Pianist and Vocalist

Actor and Television Host

Freemason

Member of 

Thomas Waller Lodge No. 49

Prince Hall Affiliation ( PHA )

Los Angeles, California

by Travis Simpkins

Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song

 For more info, please visit:

natkingcole.com

Nat King Cole. Jazz Musician. The Christmas Song. Prince Hall Freemason. by Travis Simpkins

William Morgan Monument. Batavia, New York. Morgan Affair. Anti Masonry. Freemasons

William Morgan Monument. Batavia, New York. Morgan Affair. Anti Masonry. Freemasons

The disappearance of William Morgan from Batavia, New York in 1826, an event now referred to as the Morgan Affair, sparked a period of Anti-Masonic sentiment in America.

William Morgan Monument. Batavia, New York. Morgan Affair. Anti Masonry. Freemasons

William Morgan Monument. Batavia, New York. Morgan Affair. Anti Masonry. Freemasons

 

Joseph Smith. Founder of Mormonism. Freemason. Church of Jesus Christ LDS. by Travis Simpkins

Joseph Smith. Founder of Mormonism. Freemason. Church of Jesus Christ LDS. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

Joseph Smith, Jr.

( 1805 - 1844 )

American Religious Leader

Founder of Mormonism

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Published the Book of Mormon in 1830

Freemason

Incorporated Masonic elements into early LDS ritual

Initiated, Passed and Raised in 1842

Nauvoo Lodge

Nauvoo, Illinois

by Travis Simpkins

Joseph Smith and Mormonism

 For more info, please visit:

ldsliving.com/Mormons-and-Masons

Joseph Smith. Founder of Mormonism. Freemason. Church of Jesus Christ LDS. by Travis Simpkins

Thomas Smith Webb. Burial Site. Providence, RI. York Rite. Masonic Ritual

Thomas Smith Webb. Burial Site. Providence, RI. York Rite. Masonic Ritual 

I paid my respects to Thomas Smith Webb this afternoon in Providence, Rhode Island. Webb has been called the "Founding Father of the York Rite (American Rite)." Needless to say, his work has had a significant impact on Masonic Ritual in America.

Thomas Smith Webb. Burial Site. Providence, RI. York Rite. Masonic Ritual

Thomas Smith Webb. Burial Site. Providence, RI. York Rite. Masonic Ritual

Thomas Smith Webb. Burial Site. Providence, RI. York Rite. Masonic Ritual

Thomas Smith Webb. Burial Site. Providence, RI. York Rite. Masonic Ritual

Thomas Smith Webb. Burial Site. Providence, RI. York Rite. Masonic Ritual

Thomas Smith Webb. Burial Site. Providence, RI. York Rite. Masonic Ritual

Thomas Smith Webb. Burial Site. Providence, RI. York Rite. Masonic Ritual

Thomas Smith Webb. Burial Site. Providence, RI. York Rite. Masonic Ritual

Thomas Smith Webb. Burial Site. Providence, RI. York Rite. Masonic Ritual